[trade] n [ME, fr. MLG; akin to OHG trata track, course, OE tredan to tread] (14c) 1 a obs: a path traversed: way b archaic: a track or trail left by a person or animal: tread 1
2: a customary course of action: practice "thy sin's not accidental, but a ~ --Shak." 3 a: the business or work in which one engages regularly: occupation b: an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill: craft c: the persons engaged in an occupation, business, or industry
4. a obs: dealings between persons or groups b (1): the business of buying and selling or bartering commodities: commerce (2): business, market "novelties for the tourist ~" "did a good ~ in small appliances"
5. a: an act or instance of trading: transaction; also: an exchange of property usu. without use of money b: a firm's customers: clientele c: the group of firms engaged in a business or industry
6: trade wind--usu. used in pl. 7: a publication intended for persons in the entertainment business--usu. used in pl. syn see business
[2]trade vb trad.ed ; trad.ing vi (1553) 1 obs: to have dealings: negotiate
2. a: to engage in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods b: to make one's purchases: shop "~s at his store"
3: to give one thing in exchange for another
4: sell 3 ~ vt 1 archaic: to do business with
2. a: to give in exchange for another commodity: barter; also: to make an exchange of "traded places" b: to engage in frequent buying and selling of (as stocks or commodities) usu. in search of quick profits -- trad.able also trade.able adj -- trade on : to take often unscrupulous advantage of: exploit "traded on their influence ... in securing special favors --T. C. Pease" [3]trade adj (1633) 1: of, relating to, or used in trade
2. a: intended for or limited to persons in a business or industry "a ~ publication" "~ sales" b: serving others in the same business rather than the ultimate user or consumer "a ~ printing house" 3 also trades : of, composed of, or representing the trades or trade unions "a ~ committee"
4: of a larger softcover format than mass-market paperbacks and usu. sold only in bookstores "~ paperbacks"; also: of or relating to the publishing of such books